Query regarding possible US army recruitment

MR: Thursday 19th February, 2009

There seems to be some confusion regarding the probable U.S. Army recruitment of immigrants as reported in a 14 February article in the New York Times.  That article can be found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/15immig.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=immigrants%20army&st=cse

The article makes the following points:

• This is a pilot project.
• The U.S. Army is looking to recruit a small number (approximately 550) of highly skilled temporary immigrants already living in or near New York who speak one or more of 35 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Igbo (spoken in Nigeria), Kurdish, Nepalese, Pashto, Russian and Tamil.
• The Army’s program will also include about 300 medical professionals to be recruited nationwide.
• Recruiting will only start after Department of Homeland Security officials update an immigration rule.
• Eligible candidates need to currently legally reside in the United States and to have lived there for a minimum of two years.

Fiji citizens who meet the above requirements would be eligible to apply.  The Fijian language is not one of the 35 languages needed by the U.S. Army.  Fiji citizens currently living in Fiji are not eligible to apply and the U.S. Army will not travel to Fiji or any other country to recruit candidates for this program.

Ends. ###